Pitch Count Rest Day Calculator
Enter a pitch count and game date to find out how many rest days are required before the pitcher can take the mound again.
Daily maximum 85 pitches. Rest tiers are the same in every division.
Majors (Ages 9-12) Rest Day Thresholds
Source: littleleague.org
| Pitches | Rest Days | Eligible |
|---|---|---|
| 1–20 | None | Next day |
| 21–35 | 1 day | 2 days after game |
| 36–50 | 2 days | 3 days after game |
| 51–65 | 3 days | 4 days after game |
| 66+ | 4 days | 5 days after game |
Thresholds come from the same sourced rule catalog the lineup builder uses, checked against each league's published guidelines, and may have changed since this page was last updated. Always verify with your league. Inside your account, all thresholds are fully configurable to match your league's current rules.
How Pitch Count Rest Days Work
Youth baseball leagues require mandatory rest days after pitching to protect growing arms. The number of rest days depends on how many pitches were thrown in a game. These rules are enforced by leagues like Little League International, USA Baseball (Pitch Smart), and state high school athletic associations (NFHS).
After a pitcher reaches a certain pitch count threshold, they cannot pitch again until the required rest period has elapsed. Rest days are counted as calendar days, and the day the game was played does not count as a rest day.
Why Tracking Pitch Counts Matters
Overuse injuries are the leading cause of arm problems in youth pitchers. The American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) recommends strict pitch count monitoring as the single most effective way to prevent Tommy John surgery and other elbow/shoulder injuries in young athletes. Accurate tracking across all teams a player pitches for is essential, and rest day calculations should consider every game, not just your team's.
Pitch count limits are just one piece of the puzzle. See all configurable pitching and lineup rules →
Pitch count rest days: frequently asked questions
- How many days of rest does a pitcher need?
- It depends on the pitch count and the league. Under Little League rules, 1 to 20 pitches needs no rest, 21 to 35 needs 1 day, 36 to 50 needs 2 days, 51 to 65 needs 3 days, and 66 or more needs 4 days. USA Baseball Pitch Smart (ages 7 to 14) uses the same tiers, and high school associations (NFHS) set their own cutoffs state by state. Enter your count above to see the exact requirement for your league.
- How much rest is required after throwing 50 pitches?
- Exactly 50 pitches lands in the 36 to 50 tier for Little League and USA Baseball Pitch Smart ages 7 to 14, which requires 2 days of rest. One more pitch (51) moves into the next tier and requires 3 days. High school cutoffs differ slightly, so check the table above for your league.
- Does the game day count as a rest day?
- No. Rest days are full calendar days after the game. A pitcher who throws on Saturday and needs 1 day of rest sits Sunday and is eligible again Monday.
- Can a pitcher throw on back-to-back days?
- Only at low pitch counts. If a pitcher stays at or under the no-rest threshold (20 pitches in Little League and Pitch Smart ages 7 to 14, 25 in many NFHS states), they can pitch the next day. Once they cross it, mandatory rest applies.
- Can a 14U pitcher throw in relief two days after starting?
- Only if the rest from the start has been satisfied. Under USA Baseball Pitch Smart rules for ages 13 to 14, a start of 66 or more pitches requires 4 days of rest, so the pitcher is not eligible two days later. A lighter outing of 51 to 65 pitches requires 3 days. Always count from the day after the appearance.
- Do pitch count rules apply to softball?
- Most softball organizations limit innings pitched rather than pitches thrown, while baseball leagues like Little League and USA Baseball use pitch counts. USSSA baseball also limits innings, not pitches. This calculator uses the baseball pitch count model, so those rule sets are not listed. Inside your account you can configure either approach for your team.
- What if a pitcher reaches the limit in the middle of a batter?
- Under standard Little League rules, a pitcher who reaches the daily pitch limit while facing a batter may finish that batter before coming out. The required rest is based on the total number of pitches thrown that day.
Track pitch counts automatically across your whole team
Who's on Second tracks pitch counts, calculates rest days, flags ineligible pitchers in the lineup builder, and even handles players on multiple teams.